Practical 2 - Turtle Families

snapping turtles

Chelydridae

pond turtles

Emydidae

mud turtles

Kinosternidae

softshell turtles

Trionychidae

Chelydridae family characteristics

western hemisphere, big head, hooked beak, small plastron

Chelydridae genera

Chelydra, Macrochelys

common snapping turtle

Chelydra serpentina

alligator snapping turtle

Macrochelys temminckii

Chelydra serpentina distribution

Kansas (less in western 1/4)

Chelydra serpentina characteristics

sawtooth tail, eyes on top of head, single row of marginal scutes, lacks strong keels on back

Chelydra serpentina life history

likes muddy bottoms but can swim, moves overland during nesting season, assertive and bitey

Macrochelys temminckii distribution

SE KS river and streams

Macrochelys temminckii characteristics

eyes on side of head, large smooth head scales, 2nd row of marginal scutes on bridge, 3 strong back keels (ridged)

Macrochelys temminckii life history

lingual luring (ambush predator), upstream migration impeded by low-head barriers (like dams), only in KS periodically

Chrysemys picta family

Emydidae

Graptemys geographica family

Emydidae

Graptemys ouachitensis family

Emydidae

Graptemys pseudogeographica family

Emydidae

Pseudemys concinna family

Emydidae

Terrapene carolina family

Emydidae

Terrapene ornata family

Emydidae

Trachemys scripta family

Emydidae

painted turtle

Chrysemys picta

Chrysemys picta distribution

all over KS (less in SW)

Chrysemys picta characteristics

smooth carapace (not serrated), red highlights on skin and marginals, red/orange plastron w/ black markings, variable colors

Chrysemys picta life history

active under ice, males smaller, frequently seen basking

slider turtle

Trachemys scripta

Trachemys scripta distribution

KS (except NW and W)

Trachemys scripta characteristics

serrated rear marginals, red mark behind eye, scutes lined in black, carapace ranges from green to black

Trachemys scripta life history

most common pet turtle, opportunistic omnivores, males smaller with long nails

Eastern river cooter

Pseudemys concinna

Pseudemys concinna distribution

SE KS (Wichita to south of Topeka)

Pseudemys concinna characteristics

serrated rear marginals, more elongated/domed than sliders, egg shapes, juveniles have concentric rings and line networks, easy to mistake for slider

Pseudemys concinna life history

skittish, herbivores (juveniles are omnivores), like larger water bodies

Northern map turtle

Graptemys geographica

Graptemys geographica distribution

Marais des Cygnes and Caney River systems (E and SE KS)

Graptemys geographica characteristics

lots of lines on face, yellow dot behind ear

Graptemys geographica life history

live in slow moving backwaters, durophagous (eat hard things), males smaller, females have a bigger head and different diet, Kansas state threatened

Ouachita map turtle

Graptemys ouachitensis

false map turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica

Graptemys ouachitensis/pseudogeographica distribution

Eastern half of KS

Graptemys ouachitensis/pseudogeographica characteristics

yellow bar behind eye (diagnostic between 2 species), serrated rear marginals, knobbed vertebrals pointing rearward

Graptemys ouachitensis/pseudogeographica life history

lakes/ponds/rivers/streams, durophagous (eats hard things), females larger than males, females eat more vegetation

Eastern box turtle

Terrapene carolina

Terrapene carolina distribution

SE KS (ICT to KC)

Terrapene carolina characteristics

3 toes on back feet (usually), shell closes completely in front and back, no pattern or radiating dots

Terrapene carolina life history

terrestrial (not tortoises), “woodland box turtle”, common pet, males have concave plastron and red eyes/red spots on head/throat/forelegs

ornate box turtle

Terrapene ornata

Terrapene ornata distribution

KS, nearer rivers out west

Terrapene ornata characteristics

yellow lines radiating across scutes, dark/black background

Terrapene ornata life history

opportunistic omnivore, “grassland box turtle”, males have red eyes/ green-yellow head, females have yellow-brown eyes/brown head

Kinosternidae genera

Kinosternon, Sternotherus

Kinosternidae characteristics

small bottom crawlers, barbels on chin

yellow mud turtle

Kinosternon flavescens

Kinosternon flavescens distribution

western 2/3 of KS, disjunct SE population

Kinosternon flavescens characteristics

no pattern on carapace, unkeeled (no ridge) carapace, distinct “K” on plastron hinges

Kinosternon flavescens life history

semi-aquatic, slow moving mucky water, burrow and aestivate during drought, opportunistic omnivores

Eastern musk turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

Sternotherus odoratus distribution

SE KS (Ark City to KC)

Sternotherus odoratus characteristics

strong head stripes, stinky, plastron does not fold in to close shell

Sternotherus odoratus life history

lives in permanent water, communal nesting, best climbing turtle in KS

Trionychidae genera

Apalone

Trionychidae characteristics

soft/flat/flexible shell, snorkel nose, mouth membranes for oxygen exchange, genetic sex determination (temperature sex determination ancestral for turtles)

smooth softshell turtle

Apalone mutica

Apalone mutica distribution

statewide in rivers with sandy or muddy bottoms

Apalone mutica characteristics

soft shell, lacks tubercles (nodules) along front edge of carapace

Apalone mutica life history

live in moving water, bigger females who live deeper, males have longer heads and live shallower, accomplished swimmers, masters of camouflage

spiny softshell turtle

Apalone spinifera

Apalone spinifera distribution

statewide, less in west

Apalone spinifera characteristics

soft shell, has tubercles (nodules) along front edge of carapace

Apalone spinifera life history

females bigger, lives in moving water, accomplished swimmers, masters of camouflage